The Originator of Sunbonnet Sue
When and where did Sunbonnet Sue originate, that charming design thats often used for quilts?
A couple of theories have evolved. Generally credit is given to Bertha L. Corbett, an illustrator from Minneapolis and Chicago in the early 1900s.
The story goes that Miss Corbett was trying to prove to artist friends it wasnt necessary for a figure to have its face revealed to be expressive. So she sketched some tiny girls whose countenances were entirely hidden by huge sunbonnets.
These designs were received with such enthusiasm that Miss Corbett continued along this line and designed postcards, stationery, a book on sunbonnet babies, and then a primer. She even created the Sunbonnet Girl used on the Dutch Cleanser can.
Then Bertha Corbett ventured into the Overall Boys with big straw hats obscuring their features. They found their way into primers, too.
Bernhardt Wall, another designer early in the 20th century utilized Sunbonnet Sue on postcards. Some people seem to think he may have been sketching Sues before Miss Corbett. However, this is not the usual theory of the originator of the design.
Then the delightful Sunbonnet Sue figure found her way into the quilting world.
©2005
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POSTED IN: Quilting/Patchwork History
2 opinions for The Originator of Sunbonnet Sue
Alison
Mar 15, 2008 at 9:03 pm
A friend of mine is making a sunbonnet sue quilt for our Heritage Centre and asked me to do some background checking on the history of Sue. There are lots of pictures but is not a lot of history. How did you find out avout Bernhardt Wall?
Mary Emma Allen
Mar 17, 2008 at 6:46 am
Thanks, Alison, for your inquiry about Sunbonnet Sue. Check out this site, http://www.hartcottagequilts.com/his8.htm, for some very interesting details about the origin of this design. There are some interesting theories here and Bernhardt Wall is mentioned.
Here’s another site with Sunbonnet Sue’s past: http://www.sunbonnetsue.com/suehistory.html.
Hope this helps.
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